CpG methylation of the FHIT, FANCF, cyclin-D2, BRCA2 and RUNX3 genes in Granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) of ovarian origin

Background  

Granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) are relatively rare and are subtypes of the sex-cord stromal neoplasms. Methylation induced silencing in the promoters of genes such as tumor suppressor genes, DNA repair genes and pro-apoptotic genes is recognised as a critical factor in cancer development.     

The siRNA targeted to <Emphasis Type="Italic">mdr1b</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">mdr1a</Emphasis> mRNAs <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis>sensitizes murine lymphosarcoma to chemotherapy

Background  

One of the main obstacles for successful cancer polychemotherapy is multiple drug resistance phenotype (MDR) acquired by tumor cells. Currently, RNA interference represents a perspective strategy to overcome MDR via silencing the genes involved in development of this deleterious phenotype (genes of ABC transporters, antiapoptotic genes, etc.).     

Transformation of MCF-10A cells by random mutagenesis with frameshift mutagen ICR191: A model for identifying candidate breast-tumor suppressors

Background  

Widely accepted somatic mutation theory of carcinogenesis states that mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in genomes of somatic cells is the cause of neoplastic transformation. Identifying frequent mutations in cancer cells suggests the involvement of mutant genes in carcinogenesis.     

Genetic variation in chromosomal translocation breakpoint and immune function genes and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Background  

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 10 (IL10) are promising candidate susceptibility genes for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Chromosomal translocation breakpoint genes are of interest, given their documented involvement in lymphoma progression.     

ECRG4 is a candidate tumor suppressor gene frequently hypermethylated in colorectal carcinoma and glioma

Background  

Cancer cells display widespread changes in DNA methylation that may lead to genetic instability by global hypomethylation and aberrant silencing of tumor suppressor genes by focal hypermethylation. In turn, altered DNA methylation patterns have been used to identify putative tumor suppressor genes.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">SNAI2</Emphasis>/Slug promotes growth and invasion in human gliomas

Background  

Numerous factors that contribute to malignant glioma invasion have been identified, but the upstream genes coordinating this process are poorly known.     

Identification of epigenetically regulated genes that predict patient outcome in neuroblastoma

Background  

Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone modifications are important regulators of gene expression and are frequently involved in silencing tumor suppressor genes.     

A retroviral mutagenesis screen identifies <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cd74</Emphasis> as a common insertion site in murine B-lymphomas and reveals the existence of a novel IFNγ-inducible Cd74 isoform

Background  

Insertional mutagenesis screens in the mouse are an acknowledged approach to identify genes involved in the pathogenesis of cancer. The potential of these screens to identify genes causally involved in tumorigenesis is not only limited to the murine host, but many of these genes have also been proven to be involved in the oncogenic process in man.     

Genetic variants in the cell cycle control pathways contribute to early onset colorectal cancer in Lynch syndrome

Purpose  

Lynch syndrome is an autosomal dominant syndrome of familial malignancies resulting from germ line mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Our goal was to take a pathway-based approach to investigate the influence of polymorphisms in cell cycle-related genes on age of onset for Lynch syndrome using a tree model.     

DNA methylation patterns in bladder cancer and washing cell sediments: a perspective for tumor recurrence detection

Background  

Epigenetic alterations are a hallmark of human cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether aberrant DNA methylation of cancer-associated genes is related to urinary bladder cancer recurrence.     

Involution of the mouse mammary gland is associated with an immune cascade and an acute-phase response,involving LBP,CD14 and STAT3

Introduction  

Involution of the mammary gland is a complex process of controlled apoptosis and tissue remodelling. The aim of the project was to identify genes that are specifically involved in this process.     

Genome-wide expression patterns associated with oncogenesis and sarcomatous transdifferentation of cholangiocarcinoma

Background  

The molecular mechanisms of CC (cholangiocarcinoma) oncogenesis and progression are poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the genome-wide expression of genes related to CC oncogenesis and sarcomatous transdifferentiation.     

Caspase 8 and maspin are downregulated in breast cancer cells due to CpG site promoter methylation

Background  

Epigenetic changes associated with promoter DNA methylation results in silencing of several tumor suppressor genes that lead to increased risk for tumor formation and for progression of the cancer.     

Polymorphisms of ERCC1, XPD, XRCC1 and XPG predict clinical outcome in advanced gastric cancer patients receiving oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in Chinese population

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether polymorphisms in ERCC1, XPD, XPG, XRCC1 genes are associated with clinical outcomes in advanced gastric cancer （AGC） patients treated with oxaliplatinbased chemotherapy. METHODS The genetic polymorphisms in ERCCI, XPD, XPG, XRCC1 were determined in 94 advanced gastric cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, using TaqMan-MGB probes. The clinical response of 60 patients with stage IV disease, time to progression （TTP） and overall survival （OS） of 94 patients were evaluated. RESULTS The overall disease control rate （CR ＋ PR ＋ SD） of the 60 patients in stage IV was 70% （42/60）. Patients with XRCC1 399 G/G, XPG 46 C/C genotypes showed enhanced response to the oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy compared to those with other genotypes （P 〈 0.05）. The median OS and TTP of the patients were 5.5 months and 9.0 months, respectively. Among the 4 types of polymorphisms in the study, XRCC1 399 G/A ＋ A/A, XPG 46 C/T ＋ T/T genotypes were regarded to be associated with chemoresistance and poor survival （P 〈 0.05）. Combination analysis of the 2 polymorphisms using the Kaplan-Meier method revealed that the TTP and OS of the patients with a number of risk genotypes were significantly shortened （P 〈 0.05）. No significant association was found between the genotypes of the XPD codon 751, the ERCC1 codon 118 and the clinical outcome （P 〉 0.05）. CONCLUSION Testing for XRCC1 399, XPG 46 polymorphisms may allow identification of the gastric cancer patients who will benefit from oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Specific polymorphisms may influence clinical outcomes of AGC patients. Selecting specific chemotherapy based on pretreatment genotyping represents an innovative strategy that warrants prospective studies.     

Fast simultaneous detection of K-RAS mutations in colorectal cancer

Background  

RAS genes acquire the most common somatic gain-of-function mutations in human cancer, and almost all of these mutations are located at codons 12, 13, 61, and 146.     

Genomic profiling of breast tumours in relation to BRCA abnormalities and phenotypes

Introduction  

Germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes account for a considerable fraction of familial predisposition to breast cancer. Somatic mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 have not been found and the involvement of these genes in sporadic tumour development therefore remains unclear.     

Mutation analysis of genes that control the G1/S cell cycle in melanoma: TP53, CDKN1A,CDKN2A,and CDKN2B

Background  

The role of genes involved in the control of progression from the G1 to the S phase of the cell cycle in melanoma tumors in not fully known. The aim of our study was to analyse mutations in TP53, CDKN1A, CDKN2A, and CDKN2B genes in melanoma tumors and melanoma cell lines     

Pathway analysis of gene signatures predicting metastasis of node-negative primary breast cancer

Background  

Published prognostic gene signatures in breast cancer have few genes in common. Here we provide a rationale for this observation by studying the prognostic power and the underlying biological pathways of different gene signatures.